Deodand De"o*dand`, n. [LL. deodandum, fr. L. Deo dandum to be
given to God.] (Old Eng. Law)
A personalchattel which had caused the death of a person,
and for that reason was given to God, that is, forfeited to
the crown, to be applied to pious uses, and distributed in
alms by the high almoner. Thus, if a cart ran over a man and
killed him, it was forfeited as a deodand.
[1913 Webster]

deodand — the doctrine of common law by which an article that caused death was forfeit to the Crown. It was abolished in 1846 after railway engines had been held forfeit in this way. Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001 … Law dictionary

Deodand — For the fictional creature from Jack Vance s Dying Earth, see Deodand (fictional creature). Not to be confused with Deobandi. Deodand is a thing forfeited or given to God, specifically, in law, an object or instrument which becomes forfeit… … Wikipedia

deodand — /dee euh dand /, n. Eng. Law. (before 1846) an animal or article that, having been the immediate cause of the death of a human being, was forfeited to the crown to be applied to pious uses. [1520 30; < ML deodandum (a thing) to be given to God Universalium

deodand — n. animal or object which caused the death of a human being and as a result was given to the crown and put to charitable use (according to an English law which was abolished in 1846) … English contemporary dictionary